Interview with Timur Kapadze about the "scandal" with Samvel Babayan, the biggest problem in Uzbek football and the rumors about the match against Lebanon

SPORTS.uz will continue to provide you with exclusive interviews. This time, the head coach of the club FC Olympic and Uzbekistan Olympic team Timur Kapadze visited the SPORTS.uz studio. During the conversation, he answered many questions of interest to fans.

 

 

- To be honest, this is an event with a unique history. I played Pakhtakor for 6 years. I said I wanted to go to management at the end of the season. Samvel Babayan asked me to help the club and not to leave for free. At that time, there was an offer from the Turkish team Gaziantepspor. Since there were no agents at that time, there were not always offers to play abroad. Samvel wanted me to play for Russia's Kuban and sent me to Turkey for a club tour. When I went, I practiced under Tarkhanov for some time. After 2-3 days, I realized that the club was not waiting for me. In the meantime, I also visited Gaziantepspor. Then another Turkish club got in touch. Due to the lack of time in the winter transfer, I had to settle everything as soon as possible. 3-4 days before the transfer time, I met with Mirjalol Kasimov. At the time, the team was called FC Kuruvchi

 

Kasimov invited me to the team. Meanwhile, Server Djeparov, like me, was on the lookout for another Russian team. The amount of his transfer could not be agreed by the parties. As a result, the two of us joined the ranks of the "Swallows" at the same time. Unfortunately, when I was hesitant to make a choice, FC Pakhtakor leadership did not contact me. No one called. When I signed the contract, Samvel called and said he was upset. I had no other option at the time. I think 3 years in FC Bunyodkor was a big step in my career. I gave Pakhtakor the best years of my career. Deep down in my heart, I still have respect for this club.

 

 

No player puts his own interests first when the glory of the Motherland stands. It’s not “sabotage”. True, there was a misunderstanding. Under Vadim Abramov, the national team was formed as a real family. We are confident that we will have the strength to win a World Championship ticket in the qualifiers. The match with Iran in Tashkent ended in a painful defeat. The next day, Vadim Abramov was officially fired. It was shocking news for the players. I consider Mirjalol Kasimov as my brother. We worked with them a lot. However, at the time, the decision was wrong. The sudden dismissal of the coach, who had prepared for the entire qualifying round, affected the result. I remember that after the decision was announced, Server (Djeparov) and I went to the office of the Football Federation. A few days later, we had an away game against Lebanon. At least we wanted to ask Abramov to lead us in this game.

 

Unfortunately, we returned from under the door. They didn't even let us in. We played in Beirut in a depressed mood. As a result, a draw was recorded. In the end, 3 points not scored in that match gave us a reason. However, he believes that we could not go to the World Championship due to 2 unbeaten goals. I think if we had won the matchup in Beirut, everything would have been different. The fact is that Kasimov also did not have enough time to adapt to the team. How to prepare the national team for the World Championship qualifier in 4-5 days? When Abramov worked in the game in Lebanon and then handed over the post, maybe now everything would have ended differently ?! Unfortunately, there is no point in this rumor anymore.

 

 

Yes. I think this is normal. The reason is that if coaches are not adequately provided, they will not be able to think calmly at work. If the brain is thinking about financial shortcomings, how can the younger generation be taught 100 percent of the secrets of football? Currently, the players of FC Olympic receive a salary of 2 million soums. I have told them many times that this money could turn into $ 2 million in the future and that it is all in their hands.

 

 

 

- To be honest, it is difficult to single out any coach. Because I learned something from all of them. That is the nature of man. He takes everything he needs and runs it when he needs it. I also rely on what I learned from the coaches I worked with during my playing career.